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CURRENT SEMINARS

JUST ANNOUNCED:

Virginia Film Office, the Virginia Production Alliance, and Film and Video Studies (FAVS) at George Mason University Present:

Production Assistant Training Seminar live event on Saturday and Sunday February 20 and 21, 2016.The event will be held at the Northern Virginia campus of George Mason University.Click here to register

If you are interested in bringing our live seminars to YOUR city, let us know and contact your local film commission.

Production Assistant Training Manual

Course Outline

P.A.T.S. seminars instruct participants in the day-to-day requirements of working as a production assistant (PA) on the set.

The first section is our hands-on instruction. Practical drills and demonstrations that will prepare you to show up on your first day of work on a major motion picture and present yourself as the “unforgettable PA.” The skills you learn in the first half of the seminar will allow you to perform at a level of understanding and confidence to get you a ‘call back’ for the second day!

“I took the PA training seminar on Saturday, interviewed on Sunday, got called to work on Monday for my 'Audition' day and got myself the call back for five days on the set! Thanks P.A.T.S.!"

Peter Walker – Des Moines, Iowa

With our innovative guide, examples, and forms we will teach you the following concepts:

1st Section

• Pre-Production

• Production

• Defining the roles within a Director's Team

• What to expect on your First Day

• Walkie talkie protocol and etiquette

• Choreographing background performers

Our second section focuses on the finer points of film making. It prepares you for a deeper understanding of what happens behind the scenes with the Producers, Directors, and Actors. From the page to the screen, we bring all the elements you need to understand the PA’s role in the big picture.

The key element of the seminar is our job search, resume building, and interview techniques session. With P.A.T.S. resume design, we will craft participants individual “industry standard” resumes using their skills, education and practical experience. Production resumes are unique and always go to the top of the pile. The advice and techniques received from P.A.T.S. , prepare you for the interview, so you not only know what to expect, but how to respond.

P.A.T.S. then guides you to where the entry-level jobs are found through online search and network building sites. We will help you understand how to manage the maze of gatekeepers in order to get your resume to the right people.

2nd Section

• P.A. positions in other Dept.'s

• Script Breakdown by an A.D.

• Production Paperwork

• Film Set Safety and Protocol

• Resume and interview skills

• Job search techniques

Upon Completion

P.A.T.S. sticks your foot in the door, and stays with you! Each participant's name will be entered into P.A.T.S.national database. Graduates' contact information is made available to Hollywood and local based production companies and local film professionals as a resource for crew staffing on a state-by-state basis. Furthermore, our P.A.T.S. News! provides current topics regarding the film business, tips, and regional job postings!

"This is a very practical and important seminar where information is relayed in an engaging and entertaining manner. They are very knowledgeable about their work and is able to relay that information effectively to all students regardless of their interests or backgrounds."